Children need to learn letter sounds and combinations in order to be able to decode new words as they read. They also need to have an ever-increasing store of "sight words" which they can recognise quickly, so that their reading can be fluent and meaningful.

Sight words can be regular, "decodable" words such as has, went, play, or irregular, such as have, come, was.

Daily reading practice of a "reader" or other suitable book will naturally help to develop a child's sight vocabulary. You may find that there are words which need extra practice. Your child's school may also send home a weekly list of words to learn to read and/or spell.

If you introduce varied activities and games for learning the words or letters, you will find that your child will not only learn more easily, but you'll both enjoy the process. if you can rope in other family members to the games, so much the better. (It doesn't hurt for older children to re-visit the basics, either).

· paint with large brush and water outside on a fence or concrete path etc,

· “fingerpaint” (use fingerpaint or shaving cream) on a table or window (outside!)

· write on a steamy mirror in the bathroom or in soap on the side of the bath

· sew letters with wool on coarse material

· use a feltboard with letters cut from card etc: glue strips of sandpaper or hook tape on the back)

· write letters using a stencil

· type words on a computer (or an old typewriter)

· play Word hopscotch: draw a “ladder” pattern with chalk on a path, and write in your words. Hop onto each space, reading each word as you go. See how many words you can read before you make a mistake or lose your balance (or you can time how fast you go).

· write big letters on bits of card/paper and spread them on the floor (or write with chalk on a path) then jump from letter to letter in alphabet order or to spell out words

· make letters with straws or matchsticks, stuck together with bits of clay/ blu-tack/plasticine etc

· play charades with your sight words

-saying and hearing them:

Use sound to help children remember letters and words

· Chant or sing the letter name and sound or the spelling of a word

· Make up a silly sentence, poem or tongue twister with your letter or word/s

· Spell the words out loud; record different voices spelling and saying them,

· Say your words or letter sounds with as many different accents and “silly voices” as you can; try to find a different voice for each letter or word

Play “what’s this sound?” game for letters - see how many common sounds you can make with the letters- e.g. m = tastes good; r = engine sound; s= snake noise; t = “don’t believe you”; u = “don’t do that!” p= blow out a candle; v= vacuum cleaner working; z= snoring x = cat hissing; h= amused; long o (oh)= surprised; long e (ee)= scared; long a (ay) = “what did you say?”... see what you come up with. Then write the letters on one set of cards and the “clues” on another set. Match the cards or play a game such as memory with them.

-smelling and eating them:

Use smell to help remember letters/words – smell is a very strong memory prompt:

· Make words or letters with petals of scented flowers or smelly leaves

· Burn scented oils during “learning time” to relax and help recall

· Use scented soap to write on a mirror or the side of the bath

· Add scented oil to playdough and use to make letters/words

Use taste to help remember letters/words (playing with food can be learning, too!)-

· Make a word with coloured fruit loops

· Write a word in your jelly/custard etc

· Make a word with the peas, carrots, beans etc on your plate

· Make letters with biscuit dough- then cook them to eat!

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